Peter Avis is currently Restaurant Manager of Babylon Restaurant at The Roof Gardens in London, part of Virgin’s Limited Edition portfolio of stunning properties. In 2009 he won the “Restaurant Manager of the Year Award” and is on a mission to raise the profile of front of house staff everywhere.... Read more
Peter Avis is currently Restaurant Manager of Babylon Restaurant at The Roof Gardens in London, part of Virgin’s Limited Edition portfolio of stunning properties. In 2009 he won the “Restaurant Manager of the Year Award” and is on a mission to raise the profile of front of house staff everywhere.
We all love rags to riches stories and Peter’s tale does not disappoint. Having left school in Liverpool at the age of 16 with less than a handful of GCSEs to his name, he was unclear which direction his career was going to take until, aged 18, he joined his sister for a two-week holiday in Miami – he stayed for four years.
Upon returning to the UK, Peter was approached to join the opening team of Babylon Restaurant. This enabled Peter to establish a close working relationship with Richard Branson and the Virgin brand throughout some of Virgin’s most spectacular growth years. Peter is in a unique position to give a personal insider’s view of the values and behaviours that make Virgin so universally successful.
“Over the years I have observed how not to manage people,” says Peter. Peter holds chat sessions with his staff and ensures everyone has lunch together in order for all staff to get to know each other. Working together as a team also makes sure that the team are very aware of the financial targets his restaurant needs to achieve. He believes making the team part of the business increases the motivation and aspirations of both the staff and the business; he does this by including all staff members in incentives.
In 2002 Peter founded an event at the Roof Gardens with the Elton John AIDS foundation called Revival. To further help this cause his whole team worked for free, including the chefs, and all the food and wine was donated. In the first year this event had 40 guests and made £2,500. Last year the event was hosted by Alan Carr and raised £85,000. Peter firmly believes that if you have passion and really care, no matter what, you can make a difference. With this attitude Peter and his team have raised close to £1,000,000 in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
It has been simple business strategies like this which have taken his restaurant from making less than half a million pounds in the first year of trading to the multi-award winning business it is today!”
You can book Peter Avis through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Peter's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Peter Avis's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Peter tailored to your event.
Peter Avis speaks on a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Peter to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Peter Avis for events worldwide, subject to Peter's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Peter Avis is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Peter can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Peter Avis on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Peter can offer.
Peter Avis delivers keynotes in English. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Peter Avis's areas of expertise include a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. To get a clear sense of Peter's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Peter Avis can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in a range of business, leadership and industry subjects is relevant. Details of Peter's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Peter Avis is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Peter Avis, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Peter's current availability for your dates.